I find myself a bit concerned about a trend I am seeing more and more
frequently on the discussion lists I subscribe to. What I
notice happening is students sending very basic "topical" queries to
appropriate discussion lists in place of (I believe) the "old fashion"
library search.
I guess I have 4 questions: First, have others noticed such a trend?
Second, assuming this trend exists, do you think the value of getting
students to use the internet for research purposes sufficiently great
enough to risk a decrease in our future students' ability to use library
resources efficiently/effectively? Obviously, in the best of all worlds,
students should be using both types of resources to produce quality work
and meet their assignment objectives. Thus, my third question is this:
How does one successfully convey to students the value of using the
internet without (mis)leading them to believe that libraries are no longer
essential? My fouth question is tangential: Do you think the internet
will eventually make libraries obsolete?
Any thoughts or discussion you have regarding these questions (or their
inherant assumptions) would be most welcome. I would very much like to
to hear both instructors' and students' views on this topic and my
questions.
Sincerely,
Rob Alba
Department of Botany
The University of Georgia
robalba at dogwood.botany.uga.edu
